Maigret et l'affaire Saint-Fiacre (1959)

Based on the novel 'L'affaire Saint-Fiacre' by Georges Simenon, first published in 1932.

An old woman dies of a provoked heart attack in a small town. Maigret, who happens to have been born and raised in that town, returns there to investigate the affair. He interviews the various persons associated with the deceased woman, amongst which are the local priest, the estate manager, the victim's secretary and lover, the victim's son, etc.

The story is absorbing, and the small town atmosphere is well captured. All details are very professionally carried out, except the ones concerning the plot resolution. Here, the rule that says that half-baked explanations are quite enough, given that viewers tend to overlook its flaws, applies. But an explanation that leaves unexplained things is no explanation at all. Anyway, it works, I guess.

Rating: 56